The bride's home wedding reception on Saturday

Continued from Attending the Nikah (solemnisation) ceremony of a cousin.

The following day Saturday, my family, the groom's family converged at a place near the bride's house at Taman Tun.

Following the Malay tradition, we were here to send the groom in.

However it is only at this point that the groom joined the procession.

Al-Rasyid wondering what's going on.

And this should be the latest addition to our extended family, the month or so old Nicholas Jannah Wallace, daughter of a first cousin of mine married to an American man...

A little discussion before we made the official step towards the bride's house. The previous procession was just made to get us assembled...

And on we go lead by a group playing the kompang, a sort of traditional light drums.

Guests at the house waiting...

There, our entourage on the way in.

Now that the bride and groom has settled at their rightful pedestal, the guests of honour started giving their blessings starting with this one.

Yes. At 85-year-old, our former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir can still walk upright with dignity and respect.

The second guest of honour...

That's Tun M's wife, Tun Dr Siti Hasmah.

As leader of the groom's family my dad also gave blessings along with my mum.

There were others giving their blessings including the bride and groom's parents of course but for me it is sufficient to show these pictures only...

Then it's time for lunch. That should be enough of Saturday 18th September 2010. Cheers! :]

Attending the Nikah (solemnisation) ceremony of a cousin

On the second week of Raya I attended the solemnisation ceremony of a cousin at Taman Tun.

It was on Friday night 17th September 2010 but under the Islamic calendar it is considered the night of Saturday as under its system a new day begans after dusk as opposed to the Gregorian system where a new day starts after 12 midnight.

Guests and members of both the bride and groom taking their places...

Soon everyone was in place.

My dad as leader of the groom's entourage opening up with some words as per the Malay tradition...

Next come the time for the actual solemnisation.

Everyone watching in suspense as the right words must be uttered by the groom with one breath, every word audible without hesitation to those nearby. Otherwise the process must be repeated until he gets it right... that or you might as well not get married...

Suffice to say he finally gets it right, hehe... :]

And the rest of us can get on to dinner. Note that this is the 575th article in this blogspot.

The beach at Pengkalan Balak

Continued from The beach at Tanjung Bidara.

Not far from Tanjung Bidara lies a place called Tanjung Balak.

Like Tanjung Bidara it also has a beach facing the Straits of Melaka.

However it looks to me that Pengkalan Balak has more activities...


Maybe because it is situated closer to a main coastal road while the beach at Tanjung Bidara is located towards a dead end.

Anyway we arrived here close to dusk.

So what we saw then should not in anyway reflect the true popularity of this beach...

The beach at Tanjung Bidara

From the giant trishaw of Muar we went on pass the city of Melaka and towards Tanjung Bidara and its beach.

Hmm. While I've been pass these parts of Melaka many times I can't remember ever stepping foot on its beach. Perhaps I've been here a decade ago or not, perhaps not. Anyway there's no harm to think this as my first visit to this beach.

There's this interesting elevated walk which could offer nice vistas.

So let's take a walk.

A look to the right.

A look towards the sea.

A look towards the left.

The giant trishaw of Muar

Continued from Mouth of the Kesang river.

We returned towards the old trunk road where lies a certain spectacle to behold...

Enter the giant trishaw of Muar situated besides a portion of the Kesang river...

Erected here about 20 years ago (if I remember correctly) it is to welcome visitors who enter Muar from Melaka.


However half of the district of Muar including these parts has been separated to create a new district called Ledang. Hence the name Ledang has now replaced Muar on top the trishaw despite the fact that trishaws are still operated only within the town of Muar, not in any part of Ledang. That's me with baby Al-Rasyid... :]